Cigarette lighter



Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

CIGARETTE LIGHTER John Adams, Atlanta, Ga.

Application May 12, 1950, Serial No. 161,643 (o1. 67-7.1)

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to pyrophorlc devices.

An object of this invention is to provide a cigarette lighter which embodies the use of a liquid reservoir adapted to feed fuel to an absorbent pad and wick chamber with which the wick is associated. Preferably the reservoir is formed of substantially transparent material so that the amount of fuel in the reservoir will be readily visible.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a device of this kind means whereby air will be permitted to enter the pad chamber so that the fuel will readily feed into the chamber from the reservoir.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a device of this kind a wall between the reservoir and pad chamber which is formed with a pair of spaced apart openings so that fuel may flow through one opening from the reservoir to the pad chamber and air-may flow from the pad chamber through the other opening into the reservoir. A sponge formed of rubber air foam or similar material'is disposed in the pad chamber and has the characteristic of expanding when saturated with liquid so that the sponge will also act as a valve which, when saturated, will cut on communication between the reservoir and chamber so that the absorbent pads will not become over-saturated with liquid.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a plan View of a pyrophoric device constructed according to anembodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is. a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Referrin to the drawing, the numeral l designates generally a reservoir which is formed of opposite end walls H and I2, opposite side walls I3, and a bottom wall H. An inner wall 15 is fixed within the reservoir or receptacle ll) be ing disposed between the sides 13 and extending from the end wall II to a point short of the end wall [2. The inner wall 15 is provided with a pair of spaced and countersunk openings l6 and H, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described.

taken on the'line A block I8 is fixed between the side walls [3 and to the end wall l2, and is formed with an opening I9 extending downwardly into the reservoir ID. The opening I!) provides a means whereby the reservoir may be filled with liquid and also provides a means for mounting the hous-in 20 of a flint 2!. The housing 20 is constructed in the form of a plug which is threaded as at 22 into the upper portion of the body or block l8, and the housing 2|] is formed with a vertically disposed bore 23 within which the flint 2| is slidable. A spring 24is disposed in the bore 23 and is tensioned by means of a threaded plug 25. The upper end of the plug or closure member 20 is provided with a pair ,of upstanding ears 26 between which an abrading wheel 21 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 28 which extends through the ears 26. A cap 28 engages over the upper end of the reservoir IO and closes the chamber 30 which is formed above the inner wall l5. An absorbent body 3l is dis posed in the reservoir 30 engaging on the upper side of the wall l5 and may be formed out of sponge rubber such as air foam or the like whichhas the inherent characteristic of very substantial expansion when saturated with liquid, and a second absorbent member 32 is also mounted in the chamber 30 engaging on the outer side of the sponge 3|. The absorbent member 32 is constructed out of felt or 'fibrous and absorbent material. 1 I The top wall 33 of the cap 29 has extending up wardly therefrom a tube or nipple 34 which is provided with an upper end wall '35 and with holes 36 below the end wall 35. A tube 31 ex' tends through the top wall being fixed in the top wall 35 and, is formed with'holes 3 8. The tube3l provides a guide and holder for a Wick 39 which extends downwardly throughthe tube 31 and contacts with the fibrous absorbentmember 32. A capgenerally designated as 40 is hingedly carried by the cap 39 as indicated at 4! and comprises a relatively solid body which is formed with a recess 42 within which the abrad ing member is adapted to be received and is also provided with a second recess or socket 43 within which the nipple 34 is adapted to be received. The holes 36 in the nipple 34 provide a means whereby air may enter chamber 30 about the guide tube 31 in order that when the reservoir 1 0 is tilted either to the right or the left as viewed in Figure 2, a liquid L in reservoir l0 will flow through the lowermost one of the two openings 16 and IT. The uppermost one of the openings I 6 and ll will admit air from chamber 30 into 3 1 reservoir I0. Preferably the reservoir 10 is formed of substantially transparent material such as plastic or the like so that the amount of liquid within the reservoir can be readily determined without unscrewing the plug 20.

In the use of this device the reservoir H! is filled by removing the plug 20. The plug is then reinserted so as to close the bore [9, and the ab sorbent members 3| and 32 are moistened with the lighter fluid by tipping the reservoir Hi to the right or the left as viewed in Figure '2. The liquid will run through opening I! if this is the lower opening into chamber 30, and air in chamber 30 will flow reversely from this chamber. inte reservoir I0 through upper Opening IS. The moisture of upper absorbent member 32 will flow by capillary attraction to wick 39. The provision of the openings 38 in guide tube 31' will assure sufiicient oxygen being fed to wick 39 so that this wick will not readily be extinguished in a draft.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that there is herein provided a lighter, more particularly for cigars, cigarettes and the like uses, which has a greater than usual fuel capacity as compared to the usual pocket lighters and wherein the fuel is contained within a transparent portion of the device whereby the supply can readily be ascertained at a glance. Furthermore, the construction is such that transfer of the fuel into the wick chamber is effected automatically 5 merely by tipping or turning the device from vertical to either horizontal or reverse position, as would ordinarily happen when the device is carried in the pocket of the user. A further feature that means is provided whereby excess amount of. fuel feed to the wick chamber is prevented without use of release valves or similar working parts, thus at the same time by elimination of such working parts providing reater fuel space 4 wall and with a portion thereof projecting into said chamber for contact with said absorbent means.

2. A lighter comprising a housing formed of opposite side, opposite end and upper and lower walls, an inner wall dividing said housing into a lower reservoir and an upper absorbent chamber, a block extending inwardly from one end wall and said top wall, said block having an opening communicating with said reservoir and forming a filler opening, a plug threaded in said opening,

, an abrading member rotatably carried by said iii) and engaging said abrading member, said-inner wall having a pair of spaced openings. communicating said reservoir. with chamber, each opening serving as an air vent when the lighter is tilted a direction such that'the, other serves as a pouring openingQinner and outer absorbent members in said chamber, said inner member. being. comprised of a material having an expansion factor when'substan'tially saturated. such as to close and seal said openings in said inner wall, a wick. and. means supporting said wick with a portion thereof projecting above said upper plug, a. spring-pressed flint carried by said plug and engaging said abrading member, said inner wall having a pair of spaced openings communieating said reservoir with said chamber, each opening serving as an air vent when the lighter is tilted in a direction such that the other serves as a pouring opening, inner and outer absorbent members in said chamber, said inn-er member being comprised of a material having an expansion factor. when substantially saturated'such as to close and seal said openings in said inner wall, a wick, a tube extending upwardly from said upper wall and formed with air intake open.- ings above said upper wall, a wick supporting tube carried by said first tube, and a wick in said wick tube projecting into said chamber.

3. A lighter comprising a housing formed of opposite side, opposite end and upper and lower walls, an inner walldividing said housing into a lower reservoir and an upper absorbent chamber, a block extending'inwardly' from one end wall and said top wall, said block having an opening communicating with said reservoir and forming a filler opening, a plug threaded in said opening, anabrading member rotatably carried by said plug, a spring-pressed flint. carried by. said plug and engaging said abrading memben'said inner wall having. a pair (if-spaced openings communi-. eating saidreservoir with said chamber, absorbent means in said chamber, an absorbent 'padof air: foam'sponge rubber between said absorbent means and said inner wall, said pad having an expan; sion charaeteristic'such as to automatically close said pair of openings when said pad is substan: tially near saturated, a wick, and means. sup porting said wick with aportion thereof project: ing above said upper. wall and with a portion thereof projecting into said chamber for contact with saidabsorbent. means.

JOHN M. ADAMS...

REFERENCES CITED Austria Aug. 25 1925 

